Packaging machine



March 27, 1956 M. HIRSCHEY PACKAGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1952 icy ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 M. HRRSCHEY PACKAGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1952 INVENTOR Mix/1e BYE kay ATTO R N EY United States Patent PACKAGING MACHINE Malcolm Hirschey, Woodside, N. Y., assiguor to Sarrita Paper Products Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 14, 1952, Serial No. 287,737 Claims. (Cl. 53-236) The present invention relates to an improved packaging machine and it relates more particularly to an improved machine for the packaging in individual envelopes or containers single articles or small predetermined numbers of articles.

It is often desirable to individually package small articles or to package small predetermined numbers of such articles into envelopes in order to facilitate the sanitary dispensing of such articles. This type of packaging is commonly met with in connection with the dispensing of drinking straws, toothpicks and similarly elongated articles. Many machines have been proposed and employed in the unit packaging of such elongated articles as drinking straws and toothpicks but these have invariably possessed numerous drawbacks which made the packaging operation unnecessarily expensive.

The type of machine most widely employed in the unit packaging of elongated articles such as drinking straws and toothpicks generally includes a mechanism for printing a desirable legend upon a continuous paper ribbon which is fed from a suitable source and forming the ribbon into tubular form. The tube is cut into predetermined lengths, defining envelopes having open ends, and

these are deposited into successive longitudinal slots formed in the periphery of a rotating drum which defines an envelope magazine. A second rotating drum, defining an article magazine, is provided with slots for receiving the elongated articles to be packaged and to support them in alignment with corresponding envelopes. Associated and rotating with each of the article receiving slots is a longplunger or ram rod which rides in these slots. A mechanism is provided for periodically reciprocating the plunger: the full length of the slot. The plungers thus slide the respective articles into corresponding envelopes, engaging the articles for during their entire path along the slots and into the envelopes. The filled envelopes are then sealed and discharged.

The type of machine described above is highly inefiicient principally as a result of the article injection or insertion mechanism employed. The machine is unduly complicated and subject to excessive wear and hence high maintenance costs. Frequent jamming and other commonly occurring failures leading to production interruptions and machine breakdowns are further drawbacks which decrease the machine output and efficiency and damage the articles and envelopes. Moreover, the machine thus requires continuous personal attendance thereby greatly increasing the packaging costs. Another great disadvantage of this machine is its inflexibility in as much as the machine is capable of packaging only articles of the size and shape into corresponding envelopes for which themachine was originally designed and built and it is unfeasible, if not impossible, to adjust or modify a particular machine to package articles of another size or shape. Although other machines have beenbuilt and proposed to overcome the above drawbacks, they have failed to do so and have not been widely accepted.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved packaging machine.

Z ,73! l,432 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved packaging machine of the type capable of pack= aging single articles or small predetermined numbers of articles into individual envelopes.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved packaging machine capable of packaging in individual envelopes single elongated articles or small predetermined numbers of elongated articles such as toothpicks,drinking straws or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for packaging in individual envelopes units or small predetermined numbers of elongated articles such as toothpicks, drinking straws or the like, which machine is simple, rugged and highly flexible.

Still a further object of the present invention is to pro-- vide an improved machine for packaging in individual envelopes units or small predetermined numbers of elongated articles such as toothpicks, drinking straws or the like, which machine is subject to a minimum of wear and requires little personal attendance.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view partially broken away of the major part of the improved machine; Fig ure 2 is a side elevational view of the envelope forming mechanism; Figure 3 is partial detached plan view of the article propelling mechanism; Figure 4 is a side view thereof; Figure 5 is a partial rear elevational view of the improved machine and Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5 partially broken for convenience of illustration show ing the machine drive mechanism.

The present invention broadly contemplates means for supporting an open ended envelope and an article in alignment and means for striking said article with a force and in a direction to impart sufficient momentum to the article to propel it into the envelope while engaging said article for only a portion of its path of travel into said envelope.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a mechanism for continuously feeding and printing a desirable legend upon a paper ribbon which is then formed into an advancing endless tube. A rotatable drum shaped magazine having regularly angularly spaced longitudinal grooves formed in its periphery is intermittently rotated in step-wise fashion to periodically bring successive grooves into stationary alignment with the advancing paper tube. The tube isfed into the aligned groove and is cut by a suitable mechanism into a predetermined length thereby providing an open ended envelope in the respective envelope magazine grooves. A second or article magazine, likewise of drum shape and having a plurality of longitudinal regularly angularly spaced grooves or groups of grooves is continuously rotated about an axis eccentric with and parallel to the axis of the first magazine. The two magazines are arranged end to end so that corresponding grooves of each of the magazines are periodically brought into longitudinal alignment. A striking member is disposed adjacent thefree end of the article magazine, its striking portion being in alignment with the correspondingly periodically aligned grooves of the two magazines and being movable between an advanced position substantially touching the confronting face of the second magazine and a retracted position. Spring means urge said striking portion towards its advance position and cam means periodically retract said striking member and load grantee moment of such'alignm'entr Means are provided for depositingarticlesinto the grooves of the articlemagaz-ine with their ends overhanging said grooves and the articles are propelled into corresponding envelopes by the striking member." This member 'strikes' thearticles with suf-v and widely" used in the packaging of elongated articles;

The'envelope forming mechanism'-*'includcsa printing roll 11- which is=positively notated at a predetermined" speed -and.-which is inked by suitable: engagingtandem rolls 12 and-1'3, the roll'13 being supplied ink from a reservoir 14; A continuousstrip of paper ribbon 'P is led from a paper roll 'around an idl'er roll 17 and under an impressionroll 16 which urges the paper ribbonP' against the printing roll 11 where a desirable legend is applied to the advancing paper -ribbon-P.* The idler roll 17 is mounted at the free end-of a pivoted arm 18 which z is urged counterclockwise by a helical tension spring 19' and engages the paper ribbon P to thereby" maintain' the paper ribbon under suitable tension as it is led to the printing roll 11. Following'th'e printing roll-11' are a" plurality 'of feed rolls and 'idler guide" rolls including an idler roll 20 mounted at the 'freeendof an arm ofia pivoted bell crank 21-; the free end of the other arm being? engaged by a helical tension spring 22 tourge the idler ZGagainst the paper ribbon P to impart suitabletensioni thereto as-it passes around the advancing rolls and idler guides. The tube forming andcutting mechanism includes a first curling or forming element 23 which supports-in cantilever fashion alongthe advance of the 40. The horizontal arm of the bell crank 39 is engaged by acam 41 which is supported on and rotated by a" shaft" I 42, the horizontal arm beingurged against the cam surface by means of a helical tension spring 43 fastened to the vertical arm of the bell crank 39. Thus upon each revolution of the shaft 42 and cam 41, the bell crank 39 is rocked reciprocating the arm 38 which intermittently advances the magazine by meansof the pawl and ratchet arrangement 37 and 36. With each step advance of the ratchet 36 and magazine 30, the pawl 37 engagescas succeeding teeth of the ratchet 36 and'successivesgrooves 34 are brought into alignment with the fed envelopes E. Any well known suitable mechanism, not shown, may be provided'to properly position successive grooves '34 into desired alignment with the envelope feed. The envelope feed and magazine advance is so timed that immediately following the deposition of the paper tube into the aligned groove 33 and its cutting by the scissors 29 into an envelope, the magazine 30 is advanced a step. vA bevel.-

gear-44 fixed to the shaft 42 engages'a similar-bevel gear dfi'fixed to the end of a main drive shaft 47 whiclifisl driven by a suitable motor so that 'both shafts rotate at the same speed. It should be noted that the lengths of the envelopesE are greater than the lengths of the grooves 34 and'the envelopes are so deposited in the grooves as to overhang both ends thereof.

A continuous apron or belt '50 of less width than the magazinefit) is mounted on and advanced by a plurality.

of'drurns 51. The drums 51 are so disposed about thevelope deposition.

paper ribbon P a rod shaped mandrel 24'. Positioned" along 'themandrell t is'a second forming or curling element 26'followed by a" knurled crimping wheel 27' rotatedby a shaft 28 at the speed of the advancing" paper ribbon P, the periphery of the crimpingwheel closely confronting the mandrel 24. The paper ribbon 1 advances through the forming-elements 23* and 26 where an, initial and final curl is respectively-imparted to the paper vancing along:the mandrel 24, the overlappin'g 'edgesyof" thc tubebeingsecuredto each other by crimping between theconfronting faces of' tlie mandrel 24 ahd thefrotating" crimpingwheel 27: 'A- seissore-device providerf with pair- 0f pivoted-blades 29ismountedgon afshatft zfg which slideabl'y recipro'catesyin a directionparallelto the adf vance off-papertube. Theb'lades 29 are norrnally open and are periodically closed -as"tliey*areadvanced-by the shaft along with the advancinggpapertube-to 'cut the paper cutting device is not illustrated but is well known-and" shown in detail in- United States Patent No. 1,825g058 issued- September-29; 1931 to A.-M". Goldsteinet al.-

A first or envelope carrying magazi'nefilk is mounted on and rotatable with'a shaft 33'-an'd"is ofcylindrical or ribbon P to form the-ribbon into a'continuous'tubead- '55 tube into'envelopes E of predetermined=lengthsz The mechanism for motivating, traversing and timing thedrum-like "configuration having a -pluralityof' regularly:

angularlyspacedlongitudinal groovesx34=of arcuate cross seetion formed in'the'periphery: thereof; The grooves 3.4

are eachadapted to receive and-transport an envelope, the topmost groove 'being .-.in. longitndinalziaali'gnmentw.

with the direction-of. enevlope :feed:of-.the envelopesforrm;

ingmechanisrm; Alsomountedzon andrrotatableiwiththe: 1

shafti33 is. aratchetfifi. having; teeth corresponding.- in;

number; and. spacing: to the envelopetgrooves 3.4. and. abutting the magazine 30. A pawl element-37 is mounted. i

at the free end of a slideablearm.38.which .istpinned to.

the verticalarm ofab'ell crank. 39, the'pawl element being.

urged-into engagementwiththe ratebe 16 by aleafspringjct'fi magazine 30' that the bottom face of the belt 50. engages 1 the periperal' face of the magazine 30 for 'somewhat morethan in the direction of advance of the magazine and commencing'at a pointjust ahead of the point of en:

The. belt 50 suitably retains, the envelopesE in the grooves 34 and at least one of the drums 51 ispositively driven to suitably advance the belt at thesame peripheral speed as the magazine 30. Ino'rder to sealth'e envelopes E, two pairs of crimping wheels are provided, the first pair 52 for sealing one end of the envelopes' prior to the insertion of the articles therein and the other pair 53 for sealing the other ends of the en-,

velop'es. following the filling thereof. The first pair of crimping whels 52 consist of a pair of peripherally engaging knurled wheels at least one of which is positively driven. The crimping wheels 52 are disposed adjacent.-

the end face of the magazine30 confronting the envelope,

feed'ingmechanism and in advance of the pointofdeposi tion'ofjthe envelopes E, the bite of the, wheels 52' tying m. th m an p ane of the p th. he masazinet anmqrt' 1 djacent the-other end-fa fa no ntb yond' he envelopeifilh by a pair of drums 56 is disposed below the magazine 30.

and removes the filled envelopes which are discharged from the bottom of the magazine 30.

A second or article transport magazine 60 of'drum-likeconfigurationis mounted on and rotatable with a shaft61 j which isparallel to and eccentric with the shaft 33. The 5 magazine 60'has a plurality of regularly angularlyspaced. pairsoffclosely spaced longitudinal grooves 63 formed in its periphery andhas 'an end. wall longitudinally spaced from. and. laterally. overlapping the confrontingend wall" of the magazine 30. The overlap ofthe magazine endwallsia're. such that a groove, 34' in the first magazine 3!) is in longitudinal alignment with a pair of grooves63 in they second; magazine 60 when said corresponding grooves, are in. substantially their 90? position onthe peripheries ,of the. magazines. Also, mounted on the: shaft 61- andfrotatabletherewith is a worm-wheel (SS-which is engaged by. aworm 66 keyed tothe-main driveshafhfl. The" rates of the worm. 66. and wormtwheelfiSi andthe pairofciimpingwheels 53 siinilartof fir i r and like the first pair positively driven at the advancing. speed ofthe magazine transported envelopes. Thefbife ofthe secondpair of crimpingwheels 5.3 lis'jal'so ililthe median plane of the magazinetransported envelopes. A, continuous. conveyor belt' suitably driven and supported.

angular spacing of the pairs of grooves 63 are so related and disposed that upon each revolution of the main shaft 47 and worm 66 the magazine 60 is rotated an amount equivalent to the angular spacing of the pairs of grooves 63. Thus successive pairs of grooves 63 are periodically brought into alignment with successive grooves 34 in the first magazine 30 at the 90 positions of the respective magazines. For each successive advance of a pair of grooves 63 to the 90 position, a successive groove 34 is likewise advanced to this position by the pawl and ratchet arrangement described earlier. It should be noted that when a groove 34 is in an envelope receiving position, another groove 34 is at its 90 position. Furthermore, as viewed in Fig. of the drawings the magazine 30 rotates in a counterclockwise direction and magazine 60 rotates in a clockwise direction.

A hopper 67 or other suitable storage device for the elongated articles T to be packaged is disposed adjacent the article magazine 66 and has a bottom forward opening defining a mouth confronting the upper periphery of the magazine 69 the edges of the opening engaging the periphery of said magazine. The articles T are horizontally stacked and are here illustrated as toothpicks, it being understood that other elongated articles may be packaged such as drinking straws or the like. A positively rotated cylindrical brush 68 engages the peripheral surface the magazine 60 at the mouth of the hopper 67 and insures the proper deposition of an article T into each of the grooves 63 as they pass the mouth of the hopper. A second cylindrical brush also engages the peripheral surface of the magazine 60 and is positively rotated about an axis tangential to said peripheral surface urging the articles T resting in the respective grooves 63 to slide outwardly along the grooves until their ends come into contact with a stopping element 69 disposed adjacent the end face of the magazine 60. Thus the articles T are transported by the magazine 60 with their ends extending beyond the grooves 63.

The mechanism for propelling the articles T into the corresponding envelopes E includes a vertical striking element 71} having a horizontally rearwardly projecting leg 71 disposed above its lower end and is positioned adjacent the free end face of the magazine 60 with its upper portion in substantial alignment with the grooves 63 and 34 when in their 90 position. The striking element 70 is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis by means of a pin 72 engaging a bushing 73 mounted at the point of juncture of the striking element 70 and the leg 71. Thus, the upper portion of the striking element 70 is movable in the direction of the aligned grooves 34 and 63 and is normally urged to an advanced positioned means substantially into contact with the confronting end of the magazine 60 by means of a helical tension spring 76 engaging the lower end of the striking element 76. The striking element 70 is preferably formed of a resilient material such as spring steel.

The striking mechanism is periodically actuated by means of a cam 77 which is mounted on and rotatable with the main shaft 47 and engages the horizontal leg 71. Thus, upon each rotation of the shaft 47 and the cam 77, the striking element 70 is retracted and the helical tension spring 76 is loaded and as the raised edge passes the outer edge of the leg 71 the striking element 70 is released permitting the spring 76 to sharply snap it to its advanced position.

Considering now the operation of the improved packaging machine, as the envelope magazine 30 is intermittently advanced by the pawl and ratchet mechanism 38 and 36, envelopes E are successively deposited in the uppermost grooves 34, as has been previously described. These envelopes are transported by the magazine 30 between the crimping wheels 52 where their free overhanging ends are sealed and are then brought to their 90 position in alignment with the striking end of the element 70. The envelopes E are retained in the supporting grooves 34 by the advancing belt 50. Furthermore, toothpicks T which have been deposited into the grooves 63 from the hopper 67 and have been shifted to positions overhanging the end face of the magazine 60, are transported in successive pairs into alignment with and between a corresponding envelope and the upper portion of the striking element 70. Simultaneous with the transport of successive envelopes E and pairs of toothpicks T toward their aligned positions as aforesaid the striking element is withdrawn by the cam 77 and the spring 76 is loaded. As soon as these are in proper alignment the raised portion of the cam passes the horizontal leg 71 releasing the element 70 and permitting the spring 76 to sharply snap the element 70 to its advanced position, whereby it strikes a pair of aligned toothpicks T with a force and in a direction and for a time to impart sulficient momentum to the toothpicks to propel them into the corresponding aligned envelope. The striking element is in engagement with the toothpicks for only a small portion of their path of travel into the corresponding envelopes. The cycle of the striking mechanism is period cally repeated as successive envelopes and pairs of tooth picks are brought into alignment therewith. The filled envelopes are then transported between the crimping wheels 53 where their open ends are sealed and are then carried beyond the retaining belt 50 where they are discharged from the magazine 30 upon the conveyor 54 which carries them from the machine.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is obvious that numerous alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit the eof.

I claim as my invention:

1. A packaging machine of the character described comprising a first rotatable cylindrical magazine having a plurality of circumferentially spaced linear grooves formed in the peripheral surface thereof, a second rotatable cylindrical magazine disposed in closely spaced end to end relationship with said first magazine and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced linear grooves formed in the peripheral surface thereof, said grooves being substantially parallel to the grooves formed in said first magazine, and having leading ends facing the direction of. said first magazine and opposite trailing ends, a striking member disposed adjacent the path of said groove trailing ends and movable in the direction of said grooves of said second magazine between a retracted position and an advanced positioned means for rotating said magazine whereby to periodically bring successive grooves of said respective magazines into alignment with said strikin member, spring means normally urging said striking member to its advanced position and means for periodically retracting said striking member and loading said spring means and for releasing said striking member whereby to permit said spring means to snap said striking member to its advanced position when in alignment with grooves of the respective magazines.

2. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said magazines are rotatable about parallel eccentric axes.

3. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided for depositing elongated articles to be packaged into the grooves of said second magazine whereby said articles project beyond said trailing ends of said g1 ooves.

4. A packaging machine of the character described comprising a first rotatable cylindrical magazine having a plurality of circumferentially spaced linear grooves formed in the peripheral surface thereof, a second rotatable cylindrical magazine disposed in closely spaced end to end relationship with said first magazine, and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced linear grooves formed in the peripheral surface thereof, said grooves being substantially parallel to the grooves formed in said first magazine, and having leading ends facing the direction of said first magazine and opposite trailing ends, an L-shaped striking member rotatably mounted about its elbow and having a vertical and horizontal arm, the upper portion of. said. .vertical -arm' being:v disposed adjacent the:

the respective magazines; are inalignment with said ver-' tical arm whereby to permit said spring means to snap said vertical arm to its advanced position.

5. A packaging machine as. claimed in claim 4 wherein said verticalarm is formed of. a springy material.

6. A packaging machine. of the character described comprising a first rotatable. cylindrical magazine having a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced linear grooves formed in the peripheral surface thereof, a second rotatable cylindrical magazine disposed in closely spaced end to end relationship with said first magazine and having a plurality of regularly circumfcrentially spaced groups of predetermined numbers of closely spaced linear grooves formed in the peripheral surface thereof, said grooves being substantially parallel to the grooves formed in said first magazine, and having leading ends facing the direction of said first magazine and opposite trailing ends, a striking member disposed adjacent the path of said groove trailing ends and movable in the direction of said grooves of said second magazine between a retracted position and an advanced positioned means for rotating said magazines whereby to periodically bring-successive grooves and groups of grooves of said respectivemagazines into alignment. with said striking. member, spring means normally urging said striking member to its advanced position and means for periodically retracting said striking member and loading said spring means and for releasing said striking member whereby to permit said spring means to snap said striking. memberto its advanced position when in alignment with grooves of the respective magazines.

7. A packaging apparatus comprising means for supporting an open ended envelope, a striking element movable between advanced and. retracted. positions relative.

to said envelope supporting means and spaced therefrom,

meanssfor supportinganarticle betweensaid envelope sup.- porting means andsaidstriking element, said article having asleading end confronting the open end of said envelope and .a trailing enddisposed in the path of said striking element, spring means urging said striking element to its advanced position, and means for periodically retracting said striking element and loading said springmeans and releasing said striking element, whereby said spring means freely sna s said strikin element towards its advanced position.

8. A packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 7,

wherein. therev is provided a cam having a cam surface,

a cam follower engagingsaid cam surface and connected to said. striking element and movable along a predeterminedpath and urged to an advanced position by said spring means, a portion of said cam surface offering no impedance to the movement of said cam follower to its advanced position. 1

97 A packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 7,- wherein said article supporting means includes a first rotatable cylindricalmagazine having a plurality of. circumferentially spaced parallel grooves formed therein and said envelope supporting means includes a second rotatable cylindrical magazine having a plurality of circumferentially spaced parallel grooves formed therein, saidroagazines havingparallel longitudinal axes.

10. A packaging apparatusin accordance with claim 9 wherein means are provided for intermittently rotating said magazines between the release strokes of said strik ing element.

References. Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 883,803 Herz Apr. 7, 1908 1,108,696 Casey Aug. 25, 1914 1,825,058 Goldstein Sept. 29, 1931 1,883,307 Livingston Oct. 18, 1932 1,992,463 Berger Feb. 26, 1935. 2,014,227 Conti Sept. 10, 1935 2,066,769 Conti Jan. 5, 1937 2,146,490 Toolan Feb. 7, 1939. 2,580,456 Noe Jan. 1, 1952 

